Halifax Grammar School - Grammarian Yearbook (Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada)

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- 11 - A VISIT TO ST. PAUL ' S CHURCH One day this term Prep. V was taken for an historical tour of St. Paul ' s Church, as v e are studying the history of Nova Scotia this year. St. Paul ' s Church is the oldest Protestant church in Canada, It was built and almost completed before the rest of Canada had passed to the British Crown. St. Paul ' s was founded by Governor Gomwallis and the first service was held in it on September 2nd, 1750. The first organ was taken from a captured Spanish ship and had a solid mahogany frame. The only heating was foot stoves the people brought to church with them. These were iron boxes filled with charcoal or a hot brick. In 1773 VJilliam Campbell gave the church two stoves which were not used until 1796, These smoked so much that a black- smith was called in and he was unable to find any stove pipes attached to the stoves! St. Paul ' s Church organized the first Sunday School in Canada and one of the oldest in the world. The Church was built on Barrington Street by the Grand Parade, Beneath the church are vaults and in these vaults are buried twenty people, some of whom are: Honorable Richard Uniacke and the Rev. Charles Inglis. The Royal Standard is hung in St. Paul ' s and the choir wears red oassocks. Both of these great honours are permitted because this is a church of Royal Foundation. An interesting thing is a stick that they used to use in the old day ' s to break up dog fights. People were allowed to bring dogs to church to keep their feet warm, St. Paul ' s was not considered damaged in the Halifax Explosion yet the newspaper plant a block away was blown to bits and buildings all aroimd fell do m. There is an interesting picture in one of the windows where the glass was blovm out in the shape of a man ' s head. They just put new glass over it so you can still see it. St. Paul ' s is the church I go to and I like going to an old church that has had so many things happen in it. Robbie Finley Prep. 5 Age 10.